The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1887-07-13
WEDNESDAY, July g, l887.
THOUGHTS ON THE TIMES.

While the people who passed certain
resolutions to the King have got their
full demands complied with, barring
one particular that His Majesty has re-
served for judicial inquiry, it is mani
testify the duty of all classes in favor Of
reform to help the further develop
ment Of the programme adopted by
the mass meeting. 1t would be folly
to claim that the new Constitution is
perfect There are doubtless relics Of
the old order left undisturbed, and pro
visions omitted which many would like
TO S, in the fundamental law. Yet
the changes in the groundwork Of Ha-
waiian politics made in that instrument
are really Of a revolutionary character.
To have gone much, il any, further in
radical alterations Of the national system
would have been impossible within the
lines Of The requests formulated by the
mass meeting, and TO have exceeded
that limit would have amounted to
playing false game that honorable
minds could no, sanction.
There are two main features in the
Constitution just promulgated which
should very materially change the as
pect Of national affairs from that Of the
preceding regime One Of these
consists in the provisions made for a
legislative body representing all the
legitimate interests Of the nation, to
possess freedom OF action in making
laws for the common good Of all. This
was an ideal aimed at and hoped for as
benefit to be gained by patient work
ing and waiting, for the last several
Assemblies have been constituted so
largely Of an element dependent upon
the then existent system that all efforts
at legislative reform we're quickly SUP
pressed by force Of opposing numbers.
lncorrigible partisans who were bene6-
Charles Of the intrinsically corrupt system
we're ready to admit that some Of the
proposed reforms were desirable, but
whenitcametoadopting themha dnobet-
ter treatment for them than the previous
question and indefinite postponement.
In this respect alone the fruit OF the
recent bloodless revolution is valuable
beyond the comprehension gained in
mere cursory estimate. 1t is, how
ever, important that the value Of thi:
reform should be practically recognized
as can only be by the people making
the best of the first opportunity tc
elect men Of their confidence to max,
their laws. Indifference, the introduc
ton of side issues, or the undue obtru
sion of selfish indiyidualism into tn,
contest for legislative honors, may an,
or all 90 far to neutralize the boon &c
happily secured. Organization of tn,
reform forces on the basis OF 9Th,
greatest good to the greatest number
is, generally speaking, to be regarded
as the most effective protection agains
any such eventuality-
Conjolned with the great reform
above mentioned, and designed to con
tribute substantially to It's successful
Inauguration, is the change made il
the franchise, whereby foreign resident
who are contributors to the civilization
and development of the nation ar,
granted the right Of electoral suhrages
Under the former condition Of thing
large classes Of intelligent people, witt
naturally took deep interest in tn
government OF the country, were b
the operation Of laws made by selhsl
political adventures deprived OF
voice in affairs that concerned them il
many vital regards. Naturalization an,
the milder process of denization wer
held in the gift Of the administration
to be dispensed only as either serve'
the ends Of the rulers who felt perms
nsntly secure in the enjoyment Of priv
lege and prerogatiye. At one strok